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On Independence Day, Israelis Choose Life

(JNS) Dr. Fiamma Nirenstein - Despite a terrible war, on Israel's 76th birthday, nothing is clearer than the strength of its extraordinary people. They should be admired the world over for their intensity, dedication, practicality, patriotism, and love of life. Look at the photos of young Israelis, even those who have fallen in battle. They smile with a determination unknown to our times; the smile of someone who knows who they are and why they are here. Over the centuries, the Jewish people have been forced to learn the difficult lesson of how to live despite and against, how never to give up. The Jewish people have done so again after the tragedy they suffered on Oct. 7 and the months of war that followed. This year, all the memorials and celebrations have a different tone and style than they had before. Yet the fallen and the soldiers who have fought in their memories are a light to the world and to Israel. At 76, Israel still has to choose between its right to life and the world's biased assessment of whether it is a nice guy. It must face the problem of global antisemitism. But despite all of this, it has already chosen democracy, human rights and life itself. The writer, a fellow at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, served as vice president of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Italian Chamber of Deputies.
2024-05-16 00:00:00
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